Just as 110-degree heat indexes are replaced with thunderstorms, tonight is National Night Out. Across the nation, there will be neighborhood block parties so that people can get to know each other. In my neighborhood, this is a big deal.

National Night Out is intended to be a crime prevention initialtive. I suppose the theory is that the better you know your neighbors, the more likely you are to report suspicious behavior. In fact, it’s more than crime prevention. It increases the chances that you can borrow a lawnmower when yours breaks. You make more friends. And it increases real estate values, since people value friendly neighborhoods.

In other news, Jordan visited the nurse/midwife yesterday, and she’s slightly dialated. With Sylvia, this happened a week before she gave birth. So the baby might be a week or two early.
Good thing we had the baby shower this weekend.

“Kicks” is due on the 22nd, three weeks from today. I’m not travelling at all this month, so I’m missing a trade show, a family reunion, and Opus/ConCentric. I haven’t missed an Opus since 1991, and I’ve only missed ConCentric for my sister’s wedding. There are rumors that they might put up a cardboard cut-out of me.